The Trump administration plans to change fuel economy rules that were set during Biden's presidency, aiming to make them less strict. The previous rules encouraged electric car adoption, while the new proposal seeks to lower costs for car buyers. However, environmental groups are concerned that this change will lead to more pollution and higher long-term fuel costs.
Key Facts
The Trump administration is changing fuel economy rules set under President Biden.
The original rules required cars to average 50 miles per gallon by 2031.
The new proposed rules aim for about 34.5 miles per gallon by 2031.
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US.
Some carmakers, like Ford, support the change, while environmental groups oppose it.
Under Biden's rules, carmakers could buy credits to meet standards, but this is ending.
The change is expected to save car buyers around $1,000 per vehicle, according to the Trump administration.
Environmental groups argue the new rules will increase pollution and fuel costs over time.
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee, led by Republicans, has subpoenaed Jack Smith, a former Department of Justice special counsel, to testify in a closed-door meeting. Smith led federal prosecutions against President Donald Trump, which were later dropped following his re-election. The committee is investigating the indictments related to Trump's actions during the 2020 election and classified documents.
Key Facts
The House Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena to Jack Smith, former DOJ special counsel.
Smith previously volunteered for a public meeting, but the committee chose a private session.
Smith led prosecutions related to Trump's alleged efforts to challenge the 2020 election results and classified documents.
Both cases against Trump were dropped after his re-election as President.
The DOJ has a policy that prevents prosecuting a sitting president.
Trump has described the indictments against him as politically motivated.
Smith's legal team defended his actions, stating they were lawful and according to DOJ policy.
President Trump criticized Smith in a recent news conference, preferring public testimony.
Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for involvement with Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring, plans to seek early release. This was noted in a recent court filing, and she intends to proceed without a lawyer. The petition comes amid ongoing attention and controversy surrounding Epstein’s associates, including President Trump's handling of related files.
Key Facts
Ghislaine Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence in the U.S.
She plans to file a petition for early release without a lawyer.
The court filing did not detail the legal basis for this petition.
There is caution about releasing documents tied to Maxwell's case to avoid influencing a potential retrial.
President Donald Trump has been scrutinized for his administration's management of Epstein-related files.
Trump recently signed a bill for the release of unclassified Epstein-related materials.
Speculation exists about a potential pardon or sentence commutation for Maxwell.
President Donald Trump has pardoned a number of current and former U.S. lawmakers, including Rep. Henry Cuellar, who was accused of taking bribes. These pardons are part of a broader use of clemency by Trump, which has included various political allies and January 6 defendants.
Key Facts
President Trump has granted clemency to a dozen members of Congress, mostly former lawmakers.
Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife were indicted last year for allegedly accepting bribes but received a pardon from Trump.
Former Rep. George Santos of New York had his prison sentence commuted by Trump after pleading guilty to wire fraud and identity theft.
Former Illinois Gov. and Rep. Rod Blagojevich was pardoned by Trump, having served time for attempting to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat.
Former Rep. Michael Grimm was pardoned after serving time for tax fraud.
Former Gov. and Rep. John Rowland was pardoned after serving time related to a corruption scandal.
Former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham received a conditional pardon after pleading guilty to accepting bribes.
Former Rep. Robert Cannon "Robin" Hayes was also among those pardoned by Trump.
Pro-Trump activists are urging for stronger support of the MAGA agenda, seeing it as the solution to GOP's recent electoral setbacks. They believe that Republican candidates are not fully embracing MAGA principles, affecting their election results. President Trump's focus on issues like immigration differs from some Republicans, who emphasize affordability and economic issues.
Key Facts
President Trump is suggesting a stronger MAGA focus after GOP's recent election losses.
Matt Van Epps won a Tennessee election by fewer points than Trump did in the same area last year.
Influencers like Steve Bannon are calling for immediate action on MAGA issues.
President Trump's approval ratings have fallen, particularly on economic matters.
Some Republicans want to address economic concerns like cost of living.
Trump calls affordability issues pushed by Democrats a "fake narrative."
Historically, both parties react to poor election results by reevaluating strategies.
A video showing Jeffrey Epstein's private island home has been released by Democrats on the US House Oversight Committee. The materials, obtained by subpoena from the US Virgin Islands, aim to provide transparency about Epstein's activities.
Key Facts
The US House Oversight Committee released new videos and images of Jeffrey Epstein's island home.
These materials were obtained through a legal order (subpoena) from the US Virgin Islands.
The release is intended to offer a clearer picture of Epstein's lifestyle.
Epstein was a financier with a controversial past, including legal issues.
The committee's Democratic leader, Robert Garcia, emphasized the importance of public transparency regarding the case.
The House Oversight Committee released new images of Jeffrey Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands. These images, which show rooms in the island home, are part of efforts to make details about Epstein's activities more publicly accessible. President Trump recently signed a bill requiring the release of government files related to Epstein.
Key Facts
The House Oversight Committee shared new images of Epstein's island home, Little St James.
The images show various rooms, including a space with masks and a phone with speed-dial names.
President Donald Trump signed a bill on November 19 requiring the release of government files on Epstein.
Survivors claim they were abused and trafficked on Epstein's island.
The committee requested more information from the US Virgin Islands' attorney general about Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
The bill mandates releasing the files by December 19 unless they interfere with active investigations.
The US Virgin Islands' attorney general settled claims in 2022 for over $105 million related to crimes on Epstein's islands.
United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wants regional Federal Reserve bank presidents to live in their districts for at least three years before they take office. This could increase the White House's influence over the Federal Reserve, a traditionally independent institution. The Federal Reserve sets interest rates to control inflation and support employment in the U.S.
Key Facts
Scott Bessent is the U.S. Treasury Secretary.
Bessent plans to push a rule requiring regional Fed bank presidents to live in their districts for at least three years before starting their roles.
Currently, the Federal Reserve's regional bank presidents do not have residency requirements.
President Donald Trump has criticized the Fed for not reducing interest rates quickly enough.
The Federal Reserve aims to keep prices stable and boost job growth by setting a key interest rate.
The Fed is made up of a board of governors in Washington and 12 regional banks across the U.S.
Some current regional Fed presidents were hired from outside their districts, which Bessent argues goes against the Fed's original purpose.
President Donald Trump's net approval rating has reached its lowest level of his second term, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll. The poll shows 44% of likely voters approve of him, while 55% disapprove, resulting in a net approval rating of -11%. This decrease comes amid economic concerns and political challenges ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump's approval rating is 44%, and his disapproval rating is 55%.
This makes his net approval rating -11% according to Rasmussen Reports.
The poll surveyed 1,500 likely voters, with a margin of error of 2.5%.
Rasmussen's poll collects responses from 300 likely voters each night and averages the results over five days.
Trump's net approval was -9% on Tuesday and -7% on Monday.
Factors affecting approval include economic issues and controversies like the Epstein files.
The upcoming 2026 midterm elections may be influenced by these approval ratings.
Trump has made positive statements about his accomplishments on Truth Social despite the polling numbers.
The building formerly housing the U.S. Institute of Peace now displays the name "Donald J. Trump." Earlier this year, there was a legal dispute over control of the building, involving President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency and the General Services Administration.
Key Facts
The U.S. Institute of Peace building now bears the name "Donald J. Trump."
The change happened after a legal and administrative battle.
Trump's Department of Government Efficiency had dismissed the institute's board and staff in March.
The General Services Administration took control of the property.
A federal district court blocked this move in May, but an appeals court later allowed it.
The building is currently under the control of the General Services Administration.
It is unknown when the new signage was put in place.
The story is currently developing, with more updates expected.
President Donald Trump emphasized his concerns about an upcoming Supreme Court decision on tariffs, describing it as crucial for the U.S. economy. The Supreme Court is reviewing whether Trump legally used emergency powers to impose tariffs. The outcome of this decision is currently uncertain.
Key Facts
President Trump views the Supreme Court's decision on tariffs as critical for America's economic and national security.
The case questions if Trump was allowed to use emergency powers for implementing tariffs.
The Supreme Court heard arguments on November 5, but a decision date is not yet known.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will uphold the tariffs.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stressed the importance of President Trump having emergency tariff powers.
Observers note the case is about the legality of using emergency acts to impose tariffs, not the tariffs themselves.
A judge has stopped federal agents from making immigration arrests in Washington, D.C. without proper evidence that a person might flee. This decision comes as a setback to President Trump's deportation efforts, with the judge stating that agents did not follow federal law.
Key Facts
A judge ruled against warrantless immigration arrests in Washington, D.C.
Federal agents must now show probable cause before making these arrests.
The decision challenges President Trump's immigration policies.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell wrote an 88-page order detailing the ruling.
An immigrant advocacy group and others brought the lawsuit against the government's arrest practices.
The judge noted that agents did not follow the legal standards required for arrests.
There were 943 immigration arrests in D.C. between August 7 and September 9.
The Department of Homeland Security and the White House did not comment on the ruling.
A report from the Pentagon's oversight office discovered that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used the Signal messaging app to discuss a military strike in Yemen. A journalist was mistakenly added to this chat, putting U.S. military personnel at risk.
Key Facts
The report is from the Pentagon's watchdog, an office that checks for problems and mistakes.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used Signal, a messaging app, to talk about a military operation.
The military operation was a strike in Yemen.
The target of the strike was Houthi militants.
A journalist was accidentally added to the messaging chat.
The chat included sensitive, real-time updates about the strike.
This incident could have put U.S. service members in danger.
A federal vaccine advisory committee is discussing whether newborns should continue receiving the hepatitis B vaccine right after birth. This debate involves the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and is happening on December 4. Current U.S. health guidelines recommend this early vaccination, but potential changes could be made.
Key Facts
A committee is discussing if babies should still get the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.
The meeting is scheduled for December 4 at 8 a.m. EST.
The hepatitis B vaccine is known to prevent cancer.
The U.S. currently advises that all newborns receive this vaccine soon after they are born.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s committee is considering a change to this recommendation.
The American Academy of Pediatrics still supports giving newborns the vaccine.
The discussion takes place within the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
The Department of Homeland Security has begun a major immigration enforcement operation in New Orleans. The Border Patrol is leading this effort instead of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Key Facts
The Department of Homeland Security started an immigration crackdown in New Orleans.
Border Patrol is leading the operations in New Orleans.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is not the primary agency in charge.
This operation is part of President Trump's immigration policies.
The information was confirmed by a White House correspondent, Liz Landers.
Congress is dealing with a large list of tasks, including budgets and health care. There is growing frustration and disagreement among Republican leaders about how to handle these issues.
Key Facts
Congress has many tasks to address, such as budgets and health care.
Foreign affairs are also part of the agenda.
Republican leaders are experiencing increasing frustration among themselves.
Some Republican leaders are openly disagreeing with each other.
The internal conflicts are complicating the efforts to address these issues.
In a recent cabinet meeting, President Trump faced several issues, including a detailed explanation from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about a military strike in the Caribbean. Trump also made remarks about Somalian immigrants, calling them "garbage." The episode also questioned whether Trump fell asleep during the meeting.
Key Facts
President Trump attended his last cabinet meeting of the year.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed a military incident involving a strike in the Caribbean Sea.
Hegseth faced questions about whether US forces followed laws governing armed conflict.
There are ongoing disputes between President Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump made controversial statements about Somalian immigrants in the United States.
Trump's comments suggest an increased focus on immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
There was speculation about Trump sleeping during the cabinet meeting.
The Trump administration is considering new laws that would limit student loans for those studying nursing, public health, or social work. This change could affect how the U.S. trains future nurses and doctors.
Key Facts
New laws may restrict federal student loans for certain graduate programs.
The One Big Beautiful Act sets borrowing limits for medical students at $50,000 per year.
The administration's proposal suggests strict loan caps for nursing, public health, and social work students.
Jennifer Mensik Kennedy from the American Nurses Association discussed these changes.
The proposed changes could impact the way the U.S. trains nurses and healthcare professionals.
President Trump announced that he is pardoning Texas Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar and his wife, who faced charges for bribery and money laundering. This decision is part of a series of pardons by President Trump that have sparked discussion.
Key Facts
President Trump pardoned Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas.
Cuellar and his wife were charged with bribery and money laundering.
This pardon is part of several controversial pardons by President Trump.
White House Correspondent Liz Landers discussed the topic with Liz Oyer.
Liz Oyer was a pardon attorney in the Department of Justice during the Biden administration.
A new children’s library has opened inside the visitors' center at the Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles. The library provides a space for children to read and learn while they wait to see their family members.
Key Facts
A new children’s library is located at the Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles.
The library is inside the visitors' center of the jail.
It is designed for children to have a place to read and learn.
The library helps kids during the long waiting times to visit loved ones.
A grandmother and her grandson shared their thoughts on how reading helps them connect.
